The global Covid-19 vaccination program will end this year, officials said, urging people to take up the offer of the vaccine while they still have the chance.
Meanwhile, healthy adults under the age of 50 who didn’t take the Booster’s offer were given just two and a half weeks to receive the offer before they were no longer eligible.
While officials said the offer of the vaccine was “perennial”, vaccine experts advised that universal offer should move “towards more targeted offer during vaccination campaigns”.
This means that only certain people are eligible for the primary course of vaccination – the first and second vaccinations – at certain times of the year.
Currently, anyone aged five or over on 31 August 2022 can book their primary course at drop-in centers or using the NHS National Booking Service.
Those who have not been vaccinated are urged to get vaccinated “before supplies last.”
Eligible for the first vaccinations during the new targeted program: nursing home residents and workers; frontline health and social care workers; Adults over 50 years of age; those who are medically at risk; Caregivers and people living in the household where one is immunocompromised.
Officials stressed that people can still be vaccinated if they are considered medically at risk.
No date has been set for the end of the global program, but it will happen in 2023.
The NHS in England has said it will continue to offer a “small scale” vaccination offer from mid-February to ensure those eligible for the first and second doses still receive the vaccine until the end of the universal programme.
Meanwhile, the Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunization (JCVI) said the initial booster offer for healthy adults aged 16-49 will end when the fall booster program ends.
In the UK, the scheme ends on February 12.
I would encourage anyone who has not yet taken the covid booster to book an appointment in the coming weeks and take advantage of the opportunity.
Steve Russell, director of vaccination and screening at NHS England
Experts who advise the government on vaccine policy said the decision comes at a time when “the transition from pandemic emergency response to pandemic recovery continues”.
He said the initial booster, first given in December 2021 — most people’s third jab — had high acceptance rates.
But after that, it’s “less than 0.1% per week for all eligible people under the age of 50 from April 2022”.
Likewise, adherence to the primary vaccination — the first two vaccines — among all age groups has “stalled” in recent months, the JCVI said.
Commenting on the closure of the booster programme, NHS England’s Director of Vaccination and Screening, Steve Russell, said: “Over the past two years, the NHS Covid vaccine program has delivered almost 145 million doses, resulting in a wider public reach. Security. Covid-19 and its variants – a remarkable achievement.
“Following the Government’s decision to accept the JCVI advice today, I would encourage anyone who has not yet received their Covid booster to book an appointment in the coming weeks and take advantage of the available supply.
“Once the NHS receives updated guidance on the next phase of the vaccination programme, our fantastic NHS team will ensure that it is as accessible and convenient for those who are eligible as it has been in previous campaigns.”
Meanwhile, JCVI said those most at risk will need another round of booster shots in the fall.
He gave an interim advice to the government to prepare for the next round of booster shots later this year.
A small group of people, including the elderly and immunocompromised, should receive the spring booster, he said, adding that details would be announced soon.
Officials also warned that they may need an “urgent vaccine response” if a new variant emerges.
It also called for research to be carried out on the “optimal timing of reinforcement campaigns”.
Professor Wei Shen Lim, Head of Covid-19 Vaccination at JCVI, said: “The Covid-19 vaccination program continues to reduce severe disease in the population while helping to protect the NHS.
“That’s why we’re advising people at high risk of serious illness to schedule more booster shots through the fall booster program later this year.
“Soon, we will also make final recommendations on a spring booster plan for those most at risk.”
The global Covid-19 vaccination program will end this year, officials said, urging people to take up the offer of the vaccine while they still have the chance.
Meanwhile, healthy adults under the age of 50 who did not take up the offer of a booster were given only two and a half weeks to receive the offer before they were no longer eligible.
Although officials said the offer of the vaccine was “perennial”, vaccine experts advised that universal offer should move to “more targeted offer during vaccination campaigns”.
This means that only certain people are eligible for the primary course of vaccination – the first and second vaccinations – at certain times of the year.
Currently, anyone aged five or over on 31 August 2022 can book their primary course at drop-in centers or using the NHS National Booking Service.
Those who have not been vaccinated are urged to get vaccinated “before supplies last.”
Eligible for the first vaccinations during the new targeted program: nursing home residents and workers; frontline health and social care workers; Adults over 50 years of age; those who are medically at risk; Caregivers and people living in the household where one is immunocompromised.
Officials stressed that people can still be vaccinated if they are considered medically at risk.
No date has been set for the end of the global program, but it will happen in 2023.
The NHS in England has said it will continue to offer a “small scale” vaccination offer from mid-February to ensure those eligible for the first and second doses still receive the vaccine until the end of the universal programme.
Meanwhile, the Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunization (JCVI) said the initial booster offer for healthy adults aged 16-49 will end when the fall booster program ends.
In the UK, the scheme ends on February 12.
I would encourage anyone who has not yet taken the covid booster to book an appointment in the coming weeks and take advantage of the opportunity.
Steve Russell, director of vaccination and screening at NHS England
Experts who advise the government on vaccine policy said the decision comes at a time when “the transition from pandemic emergency response to pandemic recovery continues”.
He said the initial booster, first given in December 2021 — most people’s third jab — had high acceptance rates.
But after that, it’s “less than 0.1% per week for all eligible people under the age of 50 from April 2022”.
Likewise, adherence to the primary vaccination — the first two vaccines — among all age groups has “stalled” in recent months, the JCVI said.
Commenting on the closure of the booster programme, NHS England’s Director of Vaccination and Screening, Steve Russell, said: “Over the past two years, the NHS Covid vaccine program has delivered almost 145 million doses, resulting in a wider public reach. Security. Covid-19 and its variants – a remarkable achievement.
“Following the Government’s decision to accept the JCVI advice today, I would encourage anyone who has not yet received their Covid booster to book an appointment in the coming weeks and take advantage of the available supply.
“Once the NHS receives updated guidance on the next phase of the vaccination programme, our fantastic NHS team will ensure that it is as accessible and convenient for those who are eligible as it has been in previous campaigns.”
Meanwhile, JCVI said those most at risk will need another round of booster shots in the fall.
He gave an interim advice to the government to prepare for the next round of booster shots later this year.
A small group of people, including the elderly and immunocompromised, should receive the spring booster, he said, adding that details would be announced soon.
Officials also warned that they may need an “urgent vaccine response” if a new variant emerges.
It also called for research to be carried out on the “optimal timing of reinforcement campaigns”.
Professor Wei Shen Lim, Head of Covid-19 Vaccination at JCVI, said: “The Covid-19 vaccine program continues to reduce severe disease in the population while helping to protect the NHS.
“That’s why we’re advising people at high risk of serious illness to schedule more booster shots through the fall booster program later this year.
“Soon, we will also make final recommendations on a spring booster plan for those most at risk.”
